“Don’t let Charlie make you feel like you can’t depend on people.”
“I really can’t take being disappointed again.”
I hear the shuffling of her blankets as she probably sits up.
“Look, Monty, I know because of what happened with your mom, you have your issues. I get that. But have me and your dad ever not been there when you needed us? Even if that isn’t often.”
“No, but—”
“No buts. It took me years to gain your trust after your mom left. I don’t want it to take the same amount of time for you to give it to someone else, especially Callahan.”
“I’ve known the man for five months, and you want me to trust him not to let me down?”
“He is going to let you down. That’s inevitable. But I am asking you to trust that he is someone you can lean on when you need to be held up.”
“Why?” I pull the blankets back. This conversation is heating me up.
“Like you said to me about Errol, I just get a good feeling about him. I also think it says a lot that without you even asking, he showed up yesterday.”
I rub my forehead, trying to clear up the fog she is creating in my mind. Yesterday, before he came, I was so clear-headed about what I needed, and now Farrah and Callahan are making me second-guess it all.
“There are so many reasons for me not to date him.”
“No, there’s not. There are just excuses. Just end things with Charlie already and date the man.”
“Damn, it’s like that?”
“Yes.”
I giggle into the phone, and I hear her do the same. She makes everything sound so simple, forcing me to see past my conceived complications.
“I’m going to tell him about what happened with my mom. Hopefully that will help him understand where I’m coming from.”
“That makes sense, but first tell Charlie to go to hell.”
Validating that how I felt wasn’t an overreaction, her anger is comforting.
“Okay, I’ll see you in a week.”
“Can’t wait for you to come to Ireland. It’s frickin gorgeous, and the men. Themen, Monty.” I can imagine her fanning herself.
“I already have an Irishman, thank you very much.”
Sheoohsandaahsat that, prompting me to get off the phone with her. Feeling better about my decisions, I call Charlie.
“Before you say anything, let me apologize.”
Bypassing any greetings, he jumps right into the conversation.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Monty, I know I fucked up. I just don’t know what to do in this situation.”
I want to say that Callahan did, but that seems petty.
“It doesn’t matter. Honestly, we have had, like, three good moments since we started seeing each other again.”
“Because a lot’s been going on. This hasn’t been easy.” I can hear his movements as he paces. His words are as frantic as his steps.
